Dial coupling



April 1950 J. WAWZO-NEK 2,503,785

DIAL COUPLING Filed Aug. 18, 1948 Patented Apr. 11, 1950 UNITED STATEFATENT FICE DIAL COUPLING Application August 18, 1948, Serial No. 44,971

2 Claims.

This invention relates to the means by which the dial of a circularindependent needle knitting machine is driven and, in particular, to adisconnectible coupling in such a drive.

In certain types of knitting machines the dial can be swung upwardlyfrom its knitting position to an inoperative position withoutdisconnecting it from its drive so that the timing of the dial is notdisturbed. However, the swinging oithe dial in this way may so affectthe operating connections to the dial cams that those which project theneedles or bitts with which the dial is equipped may project them if themachine is operated and may leave them projected when the dial isbrought down to knitting position.

Also no machine in use today permits of operation with the dial inknitting position without turning the dial also. It is advantageous tobe able to operate the machine without turning the dial when the dial isin any position. This is made possible by this invention, one form ofwhich is shown in the drawing of which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the coupling in dial driving position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the coupling released from the dialdriving head;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the coupling showing primarily the latch bywhich it is held in dial operating position and;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the latch withdrawn and the couplingreleased.

The dial may be driven from any suitable source through connections to adriving head 2. This head is provided with spaced projecting lugs 3 and4 between which a downwardly projecting finger 5 of a cap 6 is capableof passing. Cap 6 is slidable on dial shaft 1, but is keyed thereto atall times by a key 8. Cap 6 is urged upwardly by a spring 9, the lowerend of which rests upon the housing l0.

Shaft 1 is provided with an annular channel 5 l engageable by a latch l2mounted upon cap 6. When latch I2 is in engagement with channel I I, thecap 6 is held down with its finger 5 between lugs 3 and 4 as shown inFig. 1. Consequently, if driving head 2 is turned, mechanically ormanually, the dial is driven and if the drive is of thenon-disconnectible type, such, for example, as that shown in the pendingapplication for U. S.

2 Letters Patent #38344, filed July 15, 1948, it will be drivenregardless of its position.

On the other hand, ii latch 12 is released, cap 6 will be raised byspring 9 so that finger 5 is withdrawn from between lugs 3 and 4 asshown in Fig. 2. Then cap 6 and the dial I to which it is operativelyconnected will remain idle even though driving head 2 continues torotate and regardless of the position of the dial. Consequently, thedial can be made inoperative in its knitting or any idle position andmay be returned into operation in any of those positions merely bypushing down cap 6 until latch l2 automatically engages channel H. Theform of latch shown at 12 is compact and convenient, but not essential.Its nature is obvious from the drawing and will not be described.

I claim:

1. A dial assembly for a circular, independent needle, knitting machinecomprising a dial, a shaft secured thereto, a driving collar rotatableabout said shaft, and a driving cap keyed to said shaft and slidablethere along into and out of operative connection with said drivingcollar.

2. A dial assembly for a circular, independent needle, knitting machinecomprising a dial, a shaft secured thereto, a rotatable driving collar,a driving cap keyed to said shaft and slid-able there along into and outof operative connection with said driving collar, resilient meansoperative to urge said cap away from said collar and a latch for holdingsaid cap in operative connection with said collar.

JOSEPH WAWZONEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 953,118 Boutell Mar. 29, 19101,459,446 Fenn June 19, 1923 2,461,851 Staples Feb. 15, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 39,143 Germany Aug. 24, 1886

